In a move undoubtedly aimed at fighting back against Instagram's entry into the micro-video world, Vine has given its Android app a boost.

Less than a month after it debuted on the Google mobile platform, Twitter's video-sharing app now includes features initially left out at launch, including a user/hashtag search option, and the ability to post content on Facebook (which owns Instagram).

Meanwhile, Vine boasted improved capture speed, quality, and audio/video synchronization, as well as other bug fixes and UI improvements, plus a new clear-the-cache option. Still, iOS functions like support for a front-facing camera have yet to be introduced to Android devices.

It's unclear whether this update will be enough to push Vine for Android out of the weeds and into users' hearts. As of press time, the app carried an average rating of 2.8, with more one-star reviews than any other amount.

The popular Vine recently outpaced Instagram in terms of total Twitter shares, peaking early this month with about 2.8 million mentions, compared to Instagram's 2.3 million on the same day. But the recent launch of Instagram's 15-second video function garnered 5 million filtered videos in its first 24 hours.

But Vine isn't down for the count yet. In a June 18 blog post, the Twitter-owned company said that "over the next few weeks, we'll be introducing some exciting new parts of Vine," though remained mum about specifics. Stay tuned to the Vine Twitter feed for future updates.

The current version of Vine for Android is available for free download in the Google Play store.

Stephanie began as a PCMag reporter in May 2012. She moved to New York City from Frederick, Md., where she worked for four years as a multimedia reporter at the second-largest daily newspaper in Maryland. She interned at Baltimore magazine and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (in the town of Indiana, in the state of Pennsylvania) with a degree in journalism and mass communications.
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